Fuel regulator



A. M. VEDOE FUEL REGULATOR Jan. 30, 1934.

Filed April 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1%? 0671 Zor TkLJlU @11'5011 7. 06006 by I atiorfiayfi VEDOE FUEL REGULAT Jan. 30, 1934- 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2Filed April 1933 ilk 1 Zor Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to fuel regulators, and more particularly to theart of automatic control of a gas burner in accordance with the vaporheat generated within a vessel being heated by the burner. I am awarethat devices have been heretofore proposed which automatically regulatethe flow of gas of a burner in accordance with the heat of vapor givenoff from a vessel being heated by the burner and in accordance with thetemperature of the exterior surface of the vessel and, while thesedevices do perform such regulating functions, their action is inclinedto be sluggish and erratic and they are not sufficiently sensitive toserve this purpose with the accuracy and speed necessary to a uniformand smooth heat control. One of the objects of my invention is toprovide an improved regulator of the nature and for the purpose statedwhich will be sufficiently sensitive to give this desired automaticcontrol.

In a copending application of E. L. Baker, Serial No. 612,755, filed May21, 1932, is disclosed a gas controlling device embodying an arm mountedfor vertical pivotal movement on conical bearing faces and carrying athermostatic element for contacting with the exterior surface of avessel over the burner to be controlled. My invention herein is of asimilar nature and embodies various improvements thereover. One improvedfeature consists of a new combination embodying flat bearing faces inlieu of said conical faces, such flat faces being more economical tomanufacture and it being possible to secure a more accurate contactbetween such faces, thereby providing a tighter gas joint. Another noveland valuable feature resides in the mounting of the arm for movement ina horizontal plane in addition to its said vertical movement, a secondand like flat faced joint preferably being utilized for this purpose.The function served by this latter movement is to facilitate thecooperation of the thermostatic member with the vessel, as ishereinafter more specifically described.

Another novel and important feature of the invention resides in theprovision of a housing for the thermostatic member whereby to protectsuch member from injury by accidental external contact and to provide aconfinedchannel for conducting a flow of vapor past and into such closerelation to the thermostatic member as to effect a more responsivemovement thereof in accordance with the heat of the vapor. This housingis carried by the arm in position to accomplish these objects, all ashereinafter more specifically described. I These and other features ofthe invention will be best understood andappreciated from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes ofillustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa side elevation of a gas range equipped .9. with my invention, certainportions being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fige. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a valve, partly in section, online 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the device in another positionfrom that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the arm 7Q mounting taken online 6-6 of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 7 is an elevation taken on line 7-7 or Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevation taken on lineI.8-.-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a plan section taken on line 99'of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view through the thermostatic portionof the device oniline lot-10 of Fig. 11 and a vessel associated there-80. Wi h;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10;and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation of the valve member shown inFigs. 10 and 11.

The gas range illustrated in the drawings comprises the usual frontburners 10 and rear burn ers l1 and 12, and gas is supplied to theburners 10 and 11 from the manifold 14 connected to the supply pipe 16,valves 15 serving to control'the' 9!). flow of gas to these burners. Thegas supplied to the rear burner 12 is under the control" of'my improvedregulator and this mechanism will now be described. v

Gas is supplied to the burner 12 from a branch 95. pipe 18, the gaspassing from this pipe through the controlling device 20 and from thencedown wardly and forwardly through pipes 21 and 22, to and through avalve 24 hung from the mani fold, as shown in Fig. 4, and then throughthe 1 0 pipe 26 to the burner. The controlling device 20 (Figs. 6-9)comprises a supporting member 28 having two ports 29' and 30therethrough in communication with the pipes 18 and 21, these portsextending outwardly to a 05 flat bearing face 32 on the member. A stud33, carried by the member and extending outwardly from the flat facethereof, is adapted to carry the hub portion 34 of an arm 35,36. The armcomprises a pair of pipes 35 and 3.6 in icommunifrom injury by externalcontact.

' exit of the steam.

cation with the ports 38 and 39 extending through the hub and intocommunication with a fiat face 40 thereon. When the hub is fully mountedon the stud, the flat faces 32 and 40 are in contact and a spring 42 andnut 43 serve to hold laterally projecting portion of the member 46 andextending into the chamber 47 is a sleeve having a plane reduced innerportion 52 tight- 1y; fittingwithin a bore- 53 between the two chambers.The port of the pipe 35 opens into the sleeve through an opening 54,thus providing gas communication into the chamber 48. The sleeve may beadjusted longitudinally by rotating the same and is made. gas tight bymeans of a packing and a threaded bushing 56.

The inner end of the sleeve 52 provides an annular valve seat with whichcooperates a plate valve 57 loosely mounted on pins 58 in the upper endof an arm 60, a pressure exerting. abutment '61 for the valve beingprovided on the arm rearwardly of the valve and within the peripheraloutline of the seat.

The arm is mounted on one end of a U-shaped bi-metallic plate 62 closelyseated within the closed and restricted end of a relatively thin sheetmetal cupped member 64. The other end 'of the plate 62 is secured to themember 64 by a screw 65 and the relatively larger open end of the memberis fitted tightly into and closes a downwardly-extending port 66 intothe chamber 48. The relatively thin wall of the member 64 readilytransmits heat to the plate 62, which thereupon is adapted to bendinwardly and cause closing of the valve 57 against the annular endof'the sleeve 52. The valveis fioatingly mounted by the pins 58 and theabutment 61, being within the peripheral outline of the valve se t,causes the valve to adjust itself automatically to the seat. A knob 68may be provided on the member 46 for manipulating the arm. As abovedescribed, the fiow of gas through the pipes35 and 36 is automaticallycontrolled by the thermostatic plates 62 and, in order to protect theseplates and their enclosing cup 64 and to facilitate the operationthereof, I provide a housing 70 therefor. This housing may, forconvenience, be threaded to the member 46 and it projects downwardlytherefrom in alignment with the port 66. The cup 64 is located whollywithin the housing and is thus protected The lower end of the housing isopen, whereby to receive steam or vapor thereinto, and exit openings '72through the side wall of the housing permit the The arrangement is suchas to provide a confined channel for conducting a flow of vapor past andinto close contact with the free end portion of. the cup 64.

Mounted on'the member 28 at '74 is a leaf spring having a rounded end 76riding on the peripheral flanges of the members 23 and 34. The springpermits free movement of the arm 35-36 i from the full line position ofFig. 1 to the first broken line position thereof, and the chambers 44are of a length maintaining communication through the ports 29-30 and3839 during this movement. The faces 3246, however, provide sufficientfriction to maintain the arm in any position of adjustment within thisangle of movement. At the rearward limit of this arm movement, a roundedshoulder 78 on the member 34 engages the spring end 76, thus providing adefi nite signal of this limit to the operator. The arm may be swungfurther rearwardly to the other broken line position of Fig. 1 byexerting sufficient force thereon to pass the shoulder '78 beneath thespring end '76, whereupon such end drops into a notch '79 having anabrupt rear shoulder 80 and a rounded forward shoulder 81. In thisposition the ports 38 and 39 have passed beyond the chambers 44 to aposition cutting off communication to the ports 29 and 30 and the notchserves to hold the arm in this idle position. The shoulder 80 preventsfurther rearward movement of the arm and the rounded shoulder 81 permitsforward movement thereof when the device is again to be used. While thegas to the burner 12 is fully shut off when the arm is in its rearmostposition, it will be understood that the gas may also be manuallycontrolled and fully shut off by the valve 24, if desired.

it is desirable that the burner 12 shall con.- tinue to be lighted solong as the hand valve 24 is open and the arm 35*36 is in the operatingposition, and to assure this function I provideia bypass 82 between theports 38 and 39 through which gas may flow to the burner without passingthrough the arm and the thermostatically controlled valve 57. A screw 84is provided for adjusting this flow of gas. Sufficient gas is al lowedto pass through this bypass to keep the burner lighted even though thevalve 57 should become entirely closed. It sometimes happens that asudden draft of air striking the burner will cause this low flame to beextinguished and I preferably provide a second bypass and pilot lightfor relighting the burner under these circumstances. This second bypassconducts gas from the port 30 through the following channels: Upperchamber 44 (Fig. 7), port 85, channel 86 (Fig. 8), port 87 (Figs. 7 and9) and conduit 88 to a point adjacent to the burner (Fig. 1). The flowof this gas may be controlled by a screw 69.

For reasons hereinafter described, it may also be desirable in manycases to provide the arm with a horizontal movement in addition to itsvertical movement and such additional move ment is permitted by thefollowing described structure, illustrated in the drawings. The pipes 18and 21 are threaded into and support a base member 90 having a flatupper face with which contacts the fiat bottom face 91 of the member 28.The ports 29 and 30 are in communication with the face 91, which is alsoprovided with'co operating channels 92. A stud 93 on the member 28extends downwardly through the member =90 and a spring 94 and nut 95serve to hold the two faces incontact. The arrangement is such that themember 28 may swivel horizontally on the member 90 in the same mannerthat the member 34 swivels vertically on the member 28. The channels 92'also provide for a free flow of gas through the ports during thishorizontal swivel ing movement, although these channels will pref erablybe so constructed as to shut the gas off when the arm is moved to theposition shown in broken lines in Fig. 5. c The faces 32 and 40 may withconvenience-be made absolutely flat and as thus constructed they serveto prevent the escape of gas from the joint therebetween. It may,however, in some cases be desirable to provide further assurance againstescaping gas and, to this end, I may form the faces with a leak-proofgasket. Such a gasket is shown at the flat faced joint between themembers 28 and 90. The cooperating flat faces of these members areprovided with coinciding circular grooves 98 and 99 and a ring 100 isseated within these grooves. When initially assembling these parts, aheavy graphite grease is packed into the grooves and this grease, inconjunction with the ring, provides a very substantial leak-proofgasket. It will be understood that the cooperating fiat faces may bechambered in any manner desired or necessary to perform the requiredfunctions and that such chambered portion will cooperate with the twoports in the opposite member to establish and cut off communicationtherebetween when the members are respectively in different relativepositions.

The operation of my improved regulating device may be briefly describedas follows. When not in use, the arm is swung to its rearmost position,either vertically or horizontally, in which position the gascommunication to the burner 12 is automatically and completely shut off.When the burner is to be used, the arm is swung forwardly a sufficientdistance to open the gas ports and the burner is lighted. During thisinitial operation, the flow of gas may be controlled manually by meansof the valve 2 In Figs. 1 and 10, I have shown the arm in twooperative'positions relative to a vessel 96 having a cover 97 thereon.Inthe position of Fig. 1, the housing '70 is in alignment with butsomewhat spaced from a hole in the cover, while in Fig. 10 the housingis extended through the hole and into the vessel; In either positionsteam or vapor from the vessel will pass upwardly into the housing, intocontact with the'member 64 and out through the exit holes 72, and theheat therefrom will cause the thermostatic plates 62 to bend inwardlyand close the valve 57, thereby shutting off the flow of gas to theburner. In the position of Fig. 10, however, the steam, which reachesthe member 64 more readily, is somewhat hotter and thus causes greaterclosing movement of the valve 57, while in the position of Fig. 1 thevalve is not closed so tightly and more gas is admitted to the burner.Thus by varying the proximity of the housing to the opening into thevessel, the degree of heat can be nicely regulated, it being clear thatif a mere simmering of the liquid in the vessel is desired the housingwill be placed in the position of Fig. 10, whereas if greater boilingthereof is required the housing will be adjusted to a position away fromthe opening. It will also be understood that the arm support is providedwith sufficient friction to retain the arm in any of these positions ofadjustment.

Many vessels, such as hot water kettles, tea and coffee pots, etc., havea spout opening therefrom into the atmosphere and which spout provides aconvenient opening for receiving the housing 70. This spout, however, isordinarily located considerably to one side of the vessel and either thehousing or vessel must be adjusted laterally to accommodate the housingto the spout. Since it is desirable that the vessel shall remaincentrally disposed over the burner, it is necessary to provide thehousing with this lateral adjustment, and such an adjustment is providedby the swivel arrangement 90-91 above described. This joint 90-91, incooperation with the, joint at 3240, provides universal movement to thearm, whereby it can be conveniently adjusted to accommodate the positionof such spouts, as shown in Fig. 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a burner, means for conductingfuel to the burner and. including an arm, means mounting the arm forpivotal movement in a vertical plane toward and from the burner, meansmounting the arm for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, and meansincluding a thermostatic member carried by the arm for controllingautomatically the flow of fuel to the burner, the thermostatic memberbeing adapted to be placed into heat conductive relation with a vesselon the burner and heat transmission therefrom to the member beingadapted to cause movement of the thermostatic member and a reduction inthe flow of fuel to the burner. 2. In a device of the class described, agas burner, means for conducting gas to the burner and including an armhaving two gas ports therethrough, means mounting the arm for pivotalmovement in a vertical plane toward and from the burner, means mountingthe arm for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, and means includinga valve and a cooperating thermostatic member carried by the arm forcontrolling automatically the flow of gas through said ports, thethermostatic member being adapted to be placed into heat conductiverelation with a vessel on the burner and heat transmission from thevessel to the member being adapted to cause closing movement of thevalve.

3. In a gas controlling mechanism, a supporting member having a flatface and two gas conducting ports therethrough and in communicationcwithsaid face, an arm having a flat face and two gas conducting portstherethrough and in communication with its face, and means mounting thearm on said member with the two flat faces in contact and relativelymovable about an axis normal to said faces, the first-named two portsbeing in communication with the second named two ports respectively invarying positions of the arm about said axis.

4. The mechanism defined in claim 3, plus a base member having a flatface and two gas conducting ports therethrough and in communication withsaid face, said supporting member having a second flat face relativelyangular to its first-named face and its said two ports being incommunication therewith, and means mounting said second fiat face incontact with the base member flat face whereby to permit relativemovement of the members about an axis normal to the faces, thefirst-named two ports being in communication with the two base memberports respectively in various relative positions of the members aboutsaid axis.

5. The mechanism defined in claim 3, plus a latch permitting a limitedmovement of the arm about said axis without cutting off saidcommunication of the ports, and means including shoulders engageable bythe latch for holding the arm in a retracted position and interruptingsaid communication when the arm is moved beyond said limit.

6. In a device of the class described, a gas burner, means forconducting gas to the burner and including an arm having two gas portstherethrough, means mounting the arm for pivotal movement about ahorizontal axis toward and. from the burner, means including a valve anda cooperating thermostaticmember carried by the arm for controllingautomatically the flow of gas through said ports, the thermostaticmember being adapted to be placed into heat-conductive relation with avessel on the burner and heat transmission from the vessel to the memberbeing adapted to cause closing movement of the valve, a spring latchpermitting a limitedmovement of the arm about-said axis without cuttingoff the fiow of gas through said ports, and means including shouldersengageable by the latch for holding the arm in a retracted position andshutting off said flow of gas when the arm is moved beyond said limit. a

7. In a device of the class described, a burner, means for conductingfuel to the burner, a movable member, a chambered housing carried by themember and having an open end permitting the passage of steam into thechamber and another opening permitting the exit of the steam therefrom,means including a thermostatic member within the housing for controllingautomatically the flow of fuel to the burner, and means for supportingthe member with the housing thereof in different positions of proximityto an opening into the interior of a vessel on the burner, the action ofthe thermostatic member Varying with the proximity of said housing tosaidopeningl 8.-In a device of the class described, a gas burner, meansfor conducting gas to the burner and including an arm having two gasports therethrough, 'achambered housing carried by the arm and'having anopen end permitting the passage of steam into the chamber and anotheropening permitting the exit of the steam therefrom, a closed, hollow andrelatively thin-walled member extending from said arm into the chamber,a thermostatic element within the member, a Valve cooperating with theelement, steam passing through the housing being adapted to contact withthe member and cause movement of the element andvalve to'reduce the flowof fuel to the burner, and means mounting the arm for pivotal movementin a vertical plane toward and from an opening into the interior of avessel on the burner, the action of the thermostatic mem ber varyingwith the proximity of said housing to the opening and the armmounting'having sufficient friction to retain the arm and housing invarying positions of proximity to said openmg. I

9. In a device of the class described, a burner, means for conductingfuel to the burner and includinga substantially rigid arm, a chamberedhousing carried by said arm and having an open end permitting thepassage of steam into the chamber and another opening permitting theexit of the steam therefrom, a closed, hollow and relatively thin-walledmember extending from said arm into the chamber, a thermostatic elementwithin the member, a valve cooperating with the element, and meansmounting said arm for pivotal movement toward and from the burnerwhereby said open end of the housing canbe brought adjacent to and intoalignment with an opening into a vessel over the burner, steam passingfrom the vessel and through the housing being adapted to contact withsaid member and cause movement of the element and valve to reduce theflow of fuel to the burner.

10. The device set forth in claim 9, wherein said arm comprises a pairof substantially rigid pipes pivotally mounted at one end and carryingsaid housing and the parts cooperating therewith on the other end.

11. The device set forth in claim 9', wherein said member is locatedwholly within the housing and is thus protected against injury fromexternal contact.

12. In a gas controlling mechanism, a support ing member having a flatface and two'gas con ducting ports therethrough and in communicationwith said face, a second member having a fiat face and chamberedinwardly of said faceto cooperate with said ports when the two faces arein contact, and means mounting the members together with the two fiatfaces in contact and relatively movable about an axis normal to saidfaces, communication between said ports permitting the passageof gastherethrough being established in one relative position of said membersabout said axis and being cut oil in another relative position thereof.

, ANTON M. VEDOE.

